News of the untimely death of Bryant, his daughter, and 7 others trickled in just hours before tip-off and it was obvious during player warm-ups that things were different, New Orleans Pelicans and Boston Celtics players both noticeably shaken.
The players for both teams seemed to be more subdued than other normal pregame shootarounds.
In the hours before the game tipped off, tributes to Bryant poured in on social media. From his friends and colleagues in the NBA to celebrities to children across the country, the shock over the death of the 41-year-old NBA legend was obvious.